The scope of that job can be seen in the AFC West standings. The Broncos will finish in last place in their division, the first time that has been the case since 1999.

In 1999, as two shiny trophies in the lobby at team headquarters will attest, the Broncos were coming off back-to-back NFL championships.

After that last-place finish, they were back in the playoffs in 2000.

This time they won't follow that same path.

The Broncos had the oldest opening day starting lineup in the AFC West and had one of the oldest starting lineups in the league.

The eight 30-year-olds in Denver's starting lineup in Week 1 tied for third-highest in the league. The Broncos are one of just seven teams in the league to open the season with a starting lineup that averaged at least 28 years old.

Of those seven teams, only Baltimore and Pittsburgh will make the playoffs this season.

The Raiders had the third-youngest starting opening-day lineup in the NFL. They didn't make the playoffs, but they look poised to make a move.

The Chargers ranked 19th in age with their opening-day starters and have Philip Rivers, the best quarterback in the AFC West. Rivers is in his prime. The best quarterback gives any team a chance to win a division title.

The AFC West champion Chiefs were one slot behind San Diego in the age rankings. Having improved their speed, the Chiefs will finish the season as the league's No. 1 rushing team. They also have a 3,000-yard passer, Matt Cassel.

With all of that in mind, the Broncos have two large problems — age and speed.

Before the Broncos fired coach Josh McDaniels, he continually talked of having "tough, smart, physical" players. But personnel executives in the NFL believe the word "fast" didn't come up nearly enough.

Missy Franklin, Jenny Simpson, Adeline Gray and three other Colorado women could be big players at the 2016 Rio OlympicsWhen people ask Missy Franklin for her thoughts about the Summer Olympics that will begin a year from Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, she hangs a warning label on her answer.